New app launched for COPD patients

A NEW health self-management app to help patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has been launched by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (NEE CCG) to highlight World COPD day (Wednesday 21 November 2018).

Working with fellow healthcare providers, such as Anglian Community Enterprise, the myCOPD app is now available to purchase or is free for those who meet the criteria.

Currently 1.2 million patients in the UK suffer from COPD but it is estimated that millions of people across throughout the country have the condition and are not aware of it. In fact, 115,000 patients are newly diagnosed every year.

Designed to support patients at any stage of the disease, the myCOPD app offers users training techniques for every type of inhaler device; prescription assessment which identifies if an inhaler medication conflicts with what the patient has been subscribed and a self-management plan to help people understand what medication to take and when.

Developed with the help of leading experts, the myCOPD app also features a six-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme; symptom and assessment tracking which allows both clinicians and patients to track the condition over a period of time; weather and pollution forecasting - as poor air quality is known to have an adverse effect on peoples’ conditions - and a facility to help patients monitor their lung function.

Lianne Jongepier, NEE CCG Head of Clinical Quality Transformation – Planned Care, said: “COPD is a group of progressive long-term lung conditions that makes it difficult for people to breath due the narrowing of their airways.

“The myCOPD app has been developed with the assistance of healthcare providers and offers patients a one-stop-shop at the tip of their fingers. While the app has many innovative features, the main aim of it is to help improve a patient’s awareness and self-management skills.”